Willis McGahee returns to practice, gets limited reps

Broncos running back Willis McGahee was back on the field with the team Tuesday, but he spent more time watching the offense than playing in it.

McGahee, who has stayed away from the bulk of the team's offseason program while working out in Miami, reported with the other Broncos players Monday night for this week's three-day minicamp. In the Broncos' offseason program all but this week's minicamp is voluntary for players, but this week is a mandatory affair.

McGahee got only a few plays in team drills — he called it "a couple" — and largely spent the day as a spectator.

Ronnie Hillman continued to get the bulk of the work with the starters and rookie Montee Ball also was used far more than McGahee in Tuesday's practice.

Fantasy Impact:

Prior to the draft, GM John Elway said that McGahee 'is our big back right now.' The 'right now' is/was key, because the team took Ball in the 2nd round of the draft, and as a result the Broncos' depth chart is unsettled. With McGahee at 31 years-old and coming off an injury, Ball seems like a logical option as the team's main ballcarrier, but HC John Fox has always favored veterans over rookies when given the choice, so this may become a muddled RBBC with Ball, McGahee, Ronnie Hillman and Knowshon Moreno all in the mix. Still, given the pick, Ball has landed in a good situation long term, while the writing seems to be on the wall for McGahee and Moreno. Peyton Manning recently said that the team is going to count on Ball 'in a big way' in 2013.